What Is A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

In a nutshell, a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is like a guardian angel for your car’s tires. It constantly monitors the air pressure inside each tyre and alerts you if any of them fall below a safe level.

Each tyre has a sensor mounted on the valve stem or inside the tyre itself. These sensors measure the air pressure continuously. The sensors transmit the pressure data wirelessly to a central receiver unit in the car. If the pressure in any tyre drops below a preset threshold, the receiver unit triggers a warning light on your dashboard, usually a yellow symbol resembling a horseshoe with an exclamation mark.

It’s worth noting that some OEM TPMS implementations don’t show the exact tyre pressure but only tell if the tyre pressure is within the acceptable range or not. When it’s not, they will start presenting a warning message on the infotainment or the instrument cluster. Almost all TPMS hardware, which shows the pressure, is also capable of switching between Farenheit and Celcius. Besides the tyre pressure, many TPMS also convey the temperature of the tyres. This is important for people who drive in very hot or very cold weather.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

The pros, or advantages, of tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in a car are:

• Tyre pressure monitoring system can prevent pressure-related issues, such as tyre blowouts
• Reduces the risk of accidents and injuries as they detect issues before they become dangerous
• Helps monitor and maintain appropriate pressure in your car’s tyres, thereby enabling the driver to maximise fuel efficiency and tyre life

A tyre pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, has the following shortcomings or problems:

• Tyre pressure monitoring systems add one more point of potential failure to the car
• A tyre pressure monitoring system costs significantly more than a tyre pressure gauge, which does most of what we expect from a tyre pressure sensor for a lot less money
• TPMS could sometimes give a false alarm because of a malfunction
• It’s very easy to lose or for someone to steal an external tyre pressure sensor
• It’s a little difficult to install and maintain an internal sensor as you have to remove all tyres to install the sensor or replace the battery

How Does A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Work?

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TMPS) is an electronic system in your car that monitors the air pressure in each of the 4 tyres and alerts you when it becomes dangerously low or high. There are 2 kinds of tyre pressure monitoring systems — internal and external. Both transmit the information to a separate receiver or to the car’s ECU.

An external sensor is as easy to install and uninstall as screwing on or off a valve cap. Therefore, it’s just as easy to lose to theft or carelessness. An internal sensor requires you to remove the tyre off the wheel and install in place of the valve plug. Since each of these 4 sensors have their own battery, replacing it in an external sensor is far easier than replacing one in an internal sensor. Although, internal sensors have a bigger battery to maximise the gap between battery replacements.

How Expensive Is It To Repair Or Replace The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

The cost of repairing or replacing a tyre pressure monitoring system depends on the kind of repair it requires. Typically, the TPMS in your car should last as long as the car itself. Although, you will have to replace the sensors’ batteries as and when they run out. If a tyre sensor is broken due to a bent wheel, it could cost between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000.

What Is The Cost Of An Aftermarket Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

Installing an aftermarket tyre pressure monitoring system could cost anywhere between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 depending on the quality of the product. Aftermarket TPMS are available with most car accessory dealers and e-commerce websites.

How Easy Or Complex Is It To Install An Aftermarket Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

It’s fairly easy to install an aftermarket TPMS, especially if it has external sensors. You just have to screw the appropriate sensor to the correct tyre and start driving to sync the sensor to the receiver.

For an internal sensor, you will need professional help as you have to remove the tyre to install the sensor.

What Cars Get Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

In India, most cars from the B2-segment (Maruti Nexa Baleno, Nissan Magnite) and above get a tyre pressure monitoring system, at least in their higher variants. If you’re set to buy a car under Rs. 12.0 lakh, you may need to buy a higher variant to get this feature from the factory.

Verdict – Should I Get A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System?

If your car didn’t come with a TPMS from the factory, then we strongly recommend getting an aftermarket one. It is an important safety feature, which can prevent serious crashes because of tyre blowouts. A tyre pressure sensor also helps you maintain the appropriate tyre pressure, which helps you achieve good fuel efficiency and maintain even wear and tear. Whether to get an internal sensor or an external one is up to you depending on your preference.

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